Trap hook



Oct. 25, 1949. N. G. GARDNER 2,485,728

TRAP HOOK Filed June 27, 1946 lllllllllllllll llllllllilllllllllllllll INVENTOR.

NORMAN G.GARDNER' ATTCI RN Ev:v

Patented Oct. 25, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAP HOOK Norman G. Gardner, Adrian, Mich.

Application June 27, 1946, Serial No. 679,815

3 Claims.

The invention relates to a trap-hook, and more especially to a spring tensioned trap-hook.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a hook of this character, wherein there are two or more snag hooks which are normally brought together, and through spring action spread apart so as to assure a positive catch of a fish, the spring being latched under tension when the snag hooks are together, and the latter will be released to have the spring active for the spreading of such hooks on a catch.

Another objectof the invention is the provision of a hook of this character, wherein the construction is novel and the assembly unique for a positive operation thereof, the said hook being possessed of few parts, thus economical in this connection in its set-up.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a hook of this character, wherein it is operative on a pull upon a fishing line, and can be reset with ease and dispatch.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a hook of this character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and eflicient in operation, strong, durable, readily and easily handled, compact, neat in appearance, quick acting, automatic in the working thereof, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyin drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the trap-hook constructed in accordance with the invention in catching position;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the traphook in released position;

Figure 3 is an edge elevation when in the position shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the traphook constituting the present invention comprises a substantially U-shaped resilient spreading frame I!) having outwardly springy arms II, and an intermediate cross connecting bridge I2. The ends of the arms I I are secured to the snag hooks I3, and each hook is formed with a spur pointed bill I4, which is outwardly directed from the shank of the hook. A second cross bridge or guide bridge I2 of somewhat the same contour as the bridge I2 is connected at its ends to the arms II by a binding I4 and this binding extends down to and covers a portion of the shanks of the hooks I3.

On the ends of the shanks of the hooks I3 are formed eyes I5 to which are loosely connected fiexible braces I6 which are made of a conventional metallic fishing line. A portion of a fishing line of the same material being indicated at IT. The braces I6 are joined at their free ends by a cross head I8 and between their connections to the eyes I5 and the cross head I8 the braces I6 are loosely extended through the slot 2| between the bridges I2 and I2 on opposite sides of the guide 20. The line I! is threaded at its extension end I9 through the tubular guide 20 which is fixed in the slot 2I centrally thereof between the bridge I2 and guide bridge I2. To this end I9 there is fixed a terminal latching thimble 22 that is adapted to receive the keepers 23 formed on the arms II adjacent the eyes I5. The keepers 23 extend inwardly of the arms II and are thus spaced inwardly of the hooks I5 formed on the shanks of the hooks I3, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. However, when a catch is made and a pull exerted on the line I1, the thimble 22 will be released from the keepers 23 permitting the arms II to spring outwardly. Thus when the thimble 22 is engaged with the keepers 23, the hooks I3 are latched under tension of the frame ID in overlapped relation to each other, for the setting thereof, to effect a sure catch of a fish when line fishing in the usual manner. Then when the catch is made, the pull upon the line I1 automatically releases the thimble from the keepers 23, and through the tension of the frame II], the hooks are spread apart, causing the hooks I3 to engage in the mouth of the fish in opposite sides thereof through the medium of the bills I I of these hooks to effect a positive catch. When the catch is made the pull transmitted on the hooks I3 is absorbed by the braces IE to prevent undue bending of the arms II and possible loss of the fish snared by the hooks, thus the pull from the line is on the cross head 18 and the eyes l rather than on the arms 1 I.

The extension end [9 of the line I! at the proper point intermediate of the cross head I8 and the guide 20, is provided with a stop or abutment collar 24 to limit the movement of the end IQ of the line I! in opposite directions, and thus prevent the pulling of the end 19 of the line I! from the said guide in the operation of the trap hook. The line I! is pulled upon by a slight tug thereon as made by the bite of a fish. Latching thimble 22 may be separable from the line I1 or fixed thereto as described. At times it has been found desirable to have the line H foreshortened and to have the end thereof attachable to the main fishing line by a suitable swivel coupling, not shown.,

The hook in its entirety is in the condition shown in Figure 1 of the drawings during the fishing period, and when a catch of a fish is to be had, the condition is altered to that shown in Figure 2 which assures a positive catch of the the fish.

What is claimed is:

1. A trap-hook of the kind described, comprising a springy spreading frame having arms, hooks fixed to the arms, eyes on the upper ends of the hooks, keepers on the lower ends of the arms adjacent the eyes of the hooks, a latching member engageable with the keepers to hold the frame against spreading the arms for the separation of the hooks, pull means for releasing the latching member from the keepers to permit the hooks to separate from each other, and flexible connections separate from said frame extending between said hooks and said pull means.

2. A trap-hook of the kind described, comprising a springy slotted spreading frame having arms, hooks fixed to the arms, eyes on the upper ends of the hooks, keepers on the lower ends of the arms adjacent the eyes of the hooks, a latching member engageable with the keepers to hold the frame against spreading the arms for the separation of the hooks, pull means for releasing the latching member from the keepers to permit the hooks to separate from each' other, and flexible connections between the hooks and the said pull means, said flexible connections being guided through said slotted frame.

' guided through said slotted frame, and means for limiting the pulling action of the pull means.

NORMAN G. GARDNER,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record, in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS I Date Number Name 712,497 Coffin Nov. 4, 1902 825,639 Curtis July 10, 1906 985,659 Clayton Febp28, 1911 1,183,527 Blodgett May 16, 1916 i l i 

